Kitchen Obsessions

You may think I'm a little crazy, as I have no readers for my blog and I am talking to...well...no one!  But I'll just pretend that thousands of you are listening and go from there:)

So lately I have been really obsessed with some new kitchen gadgets and appliances--why did  I go so long without these!?!  There was the lack of extra spending cash for starters, but (by request) Santa was good to me this year and now I want to tell you all about it.

First, waffles--they have been misery to make, always sticking to the iron.  I received this lovely waffle maker when I got married--so thoughtful--but the iron is junk!    The waffles take about 10 minutes to cook, 15 minutes to get crispy  AND only two at a time!--sufficient for a newly married couple, I suppose, but not up to par when feeding my ravenous children.


Enter the Chef's Choice m8i40 Waffle Pro Express Waffle Maker--hello!  This baby is fabulous--quick waffles, crispy,  delicious.  No sticking.  And-- it beeps when the waffles are cooked to your liking.  Then--the best part of all--the waffles are an adorable heart shape!

The only down side it that I have to make about 20 batches to feel my hungry family, but it is soooo easy I don't mind a bit.  Ahhhh, the joys of waffles.

Now onto Santa's most expensive investment.  I had been thinking about getting a pasta roller/cutter for a few years now.  I knew the kitchenaid pasta attachments would be fast, but I really was in love with the idea of having a hand crank pasta machine and envisioned beautiful future moments of my children happily helping me crank the pasta as we bonded together in the kitchen.

My husband's concern was--would I ever actually use a pasta maker?--dinner from a pasta box is a stretch right now, so--"making your own pasta?  Really?"  Still, with life's reality upon me I still plunged ahead with a full-court press for the kitchen-aid attachments.

Oh, what a relief,  I adore my new pasta attachments.  They are fast, easy, and fabulous.  I've made yummy spaghetti (spinach and regular), divine crab ravioli, homemade lasagna noodles(maybe a little too much effort), and ton of delicious egg noodles.   My only complete disaster was spaghetti carbonara with homemade noodles--don't try this!   I had to stir the eggs in so fast that all my spaghetti broke into pieces--I was so excited for this dish!--then... bleh.

Nonetheless, love, love, love these attachments!  And, for me, I am glad I didn't go with the hand crank--who has the time. 

I believe Santa got these through Amazon only because I buy EVERYTHING on amazon and recommended it to him-- I have heard of some fortunate few finding the kitchenaid attachments on sale, but I have never personally seen such a sale.  I have no idea where else you would find a better price on my heart waffle maker and I am much too lazy to google it.
Chef's Choice M840 WafflePro Express Waffle Maker, Traditional Five of Hearts
KitchenAid KPRA Pasta Roller Attachment for Stand Mixers